Re: What are tests that can conclusively diagnose adrenal fatigue/issues?

[Guest guest]

What are your labs with ranges? AM Cortisol is a blood test that your

doctor can order. Needs to be done at 8am.

Kate G

Hahsi's

AS

At 08:07 AM 5/24/2008, you wrote:

>My TSH levels are VERY low; however T3 and T4 are fine. I'm trying to

>determine if the underlying cause could be adrenal fatigue.

>

>Tests that can be done? Can I get access to these tests other than

>through a doctor's orders?

>

>Thanks,

[Guest guest]

39 years old

Baby 2001

6/06 miscarriage

8/06 – TSH .82 (.35-5.50); FT4 .77 (.56 – 1.66)

10/06 pregnancy

7/07 delivery

1/08 TSH <.1

3/08 TSH <.1 (.3-5.1); T3 uptake 30.9 (20-38.5); FT4 thyroxine 1.48

(.73-1.95)

5/08 TSH 3rd generation .08 (.4-4.5); T3 uptake (22-35) 34; T4

thyroxine total 7.2 (4.5 - 12.5); Free T4 2.4 (1.4-3.8)

The thing that got this process started was in January I went to an

MD because I was having joint pain (only after waking up and first

getting around) and tachycardia (only when I exercise vigorously and

not all the time). The tachycardia has subsided with only a few

episodes in the last couple of months and the cardiologist rule out

any issues structurally with my heart. In the meantime the TSH was

checked again and I had one visit to an endocrinologist who wanted me

to come back in 3 weeks, blood test again, and see how things were

going. Since I'm still breast feeding she wasn't going to do

anything – but she also didn't want me to get my heart rate up more

than 100 (my resting heart rate is in the 50's but can't exercise and

keep the heart rate 100 or less). I haven't been back (that was

March).

I met with a pharmacist who is also a nutritionist and based on blood

work results, etc. he put me on some adrenal support, Biotin, Fish

Oil, I'm doing 1000 mg of Calcium, and some protein Whey powder.

I've done that for two weeks and seen some marginal change in my

joints (not much). Again, as far as other noticeable symptoms, I

can't say that I have any – I just don't want to neglect something

that may be going on inside.

[Guest guest]

In Thyroid Manager, an online textbook for doctors, low Free T3, Free T4 and TSH is the algorithm for secondary (pituitary) or central (hypothalamus) hypothyroidism if you are not on any thyroid meds.

Have you had massive bleeding in conjunction with childbirth or miscarriage? If so, you may wish to be evaluated for Sheehan's syndrome.

Have you had a head or neck injury?

If you are hypothyroid due to any of the above, there is a good chance that you may be deficient in other hormones, including cortisol.

>> > > 39 years old> Baby 2001> 6/06 miscarriage> 8/06 – TSH .82 (.35-5.50); FT4 .77 (.56 – 1.66)> 10/06 pregnancy> 7/07 delivery> 1/08 TSH <.1> 3/08 TSH <.1 (.3-5.1); T3 uptake 30.9 (20-38.5); FT4 thyroxine 1.48 > (.73-1.95)> 5/08 TSH 3rd generation .08 (.4-4.5); T3 uptake (22-35) 34; T4 > thyroxine total 7.2 (4.5 - 12.5); Free T4 2.4 (1.4-3.8)> > The thing that got this process started was in January I went to an > MD because I was having joint pain (only after waking up and first > getting around) and tachycardia (only when I exercise vigorously and > not all the time). The tachycardia has subsided with only a few > episodes in the last couple of months and the cardiologist rule out > any issues structurally with my heart. In the meantime the TSH was > checked again and I had one visit to an endocrinologist who wanted me > to come back in 3 weeks, blood test again, and see how things were > going. Since I'm still breast feeding she wasn't going to do > anything – but she also didn't want me to get my heart rate up more > than 100 (my resting heart rate is in the 50's but can't exercise and > keep the heart rate 100 or less). I haven't been back (that was > March). > > I met with a pharmacist who is also a nutritionist and based on blood > work results, etc. he put me on some adrenal support, Biotin, Fish > Oil, I'm doing 1000 mg of Calcium, and some protein Whey powder. > I've done that for two weeks and seen some marginal change in my > joints (not much). Again, as far as other noticeable symptoms, I > can't say that I have any – I just don't want to neglect something > that may be going on inside.>

[Guest guest]

I would add that your thyroid numbers might also be consistent with an autonomous nodule, which spits out T3 from time to time, suppressing your TSH, but leaving you hypothyroid most of the time.

> >> >> >> > 39 years old> > Baby 2001> > 6/06 miscarriage> > 8/06 – TSH .82 (.35-5.50); FT4 .77 (.56 – 1.66)> > 10/06 pregnancy> > 7/07 delivery> > 1/08 TSH <.1> > 3/08 TSH <.1 (.3-5.1); T3 uptake 30.9 (20-38.5); FT4 thyroxine 1.48> > (.73-1.95)> > 5/08 TSH 3rd generation .08 (.4-4.5); T3 uptake (22-35) 34; T4> > thyroxine total 7.2 (4.5 - 12.5); Free T4 2.4 (1.4-3.8)> >> > The thing that got this process started was in January I went to an> > MD because I was having joint pain (only after waking up and first> > getting around) and tachycardia (only when I exercise vigorously and> > not all the time). The tachycardia has subsided with only a few> > episodes in the last couple of months and the cardiologist rule out> > any issues structurally with my heart. In the meantime the TSH was> > checked again and I had one visit to an endocrinologist who wanted me> > to come back in 3 weeks, blood test again, and see how things were> > going. Since I'm still breast feeding she wasn't going to do> > anything – but she also didn't want me to get my heart rate up> more> > than 100 (my resting heart rate is in the 50's but can't exercise and> > keep the heart rate 100 or less). I haven't been back (that was> > March).> >> > I met with a pharmacist who is also a nutritionist and based on blood> > work results, etc. he put me on some adrenal support, Biotin, Fish> > Oil, I'm doing 1000 mg of Calcium, and some protein Whey powder.> > I've done that for two weeks and seen some marginal change in my> > joints (not much). Again, as far as other noticeable symptoms, I> > can't say that I have any – I just don't want to neglect something> > that may be going on inside.> >>

[Guest guest]

> In Thyroid Manager, an online textbook for doctors, low Free T3,

Free T4 and TSH is the algorithm for secondary (pituitary) or central

(hypothalamus) hypothyroidism if you are not on any thyroid meds.

Have you had massive bleeding in conjunction with childbirth or

miscarriage? If so, you may wish to be evaluated for Sheehan's

syndrome.

REPLY: Nope, no massive bleeding.

> Have you had a head or neck injury?

REPLY: Nope.

>

If you are hypothyroid due to any of the above, there is a good chance

that you may be deficient in other hormones, including cortisol.

REPLY: So, you're saying that while my TSH leans to " hyper " numbers,

I could still be Hypo? I don't have any of the symptoms, noticeably,

and the only ongoing factor that seems to be noticeable to me is the

joint tenderness when I first get up in the morning.

I'm concerned about going back to an endo who would either want to

put my on snythroid of kill off my thyroid basically and then for me

to get swung into a whole bunch of symptoms that I see being

discussed and battled. I don't want to untreat something that could

be serious or affect me long term but am trying to find some

alternatives that may help get my system back in worknig order

without making me dependent on medication the rest of my life.

[Guest guest]

Wow...hope I didn't strike a nerve but I guess I did based on your

response.

I guess where I " m confused is that I've seen numerous posts on here

where folks are dissatisfied with doctors who ONLY pay attention to

the lab results (and the lab results seem to indicate need for less

medicine/hormone because the TSH is not normal/supressed) and so

they " fire " the doctor because they are having symptoms and feel that

the medicine levels are needed. And yet, I don't have any real

noticeable symptoms (of course there could be things going on with my

body that have not yet manifested) and yet the doctor wants to go to

synthetic hormones.

How does one really identify whether they have a disease? If you're

saying that the doctor should treat based on symptoms and not labs

then why is my wquestioning what else could be going on and not

wanting to be put on medicine as a first order of

treatment " controversial? "

I appreciate that the thyroid regulates many important functions of

the body and that it is a delicate balance making certain the right

level of hormones is being released. My concern is that by

introducing synthetic hormones or Armour, the body gets tricked and

doesn't " work " to produce it's own hormone thus creating a

dependency, and that's what I'm wanting to avoid. Plus I've seen

many frustrated folks because they get on the " helpful " medicine/

hormone and then swing from hyper to hypo, etc.